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(No Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. P. WAGNER.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER. No. 279,054. Patented June 5,1883.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. F. WAGNER. FIRE EXIINGUISHBR. No. 279,054. Patented June 5,1883.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. P. WAGNER.

FIRE EXTINGUISHBR.

No. 279,054. Patented June 5,1883.

' ATTORNEYS.

N. PEIERS. Pnawmm nwer. Washinghm D11 UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

enonen F. WAGNER, on OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,054, dated June 5, 18833. Application filed April 16, 188 3 (No model.)

Improvement in Fire-Extinguishers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan view of the apparatus located above the stage of a theater. Fig. 2'is a horizontal section of the same through'the stage, showing in dotted lines the position of the pipes beneath the stage; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the front column-pipes and passing through the stage through theline w as of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail "iew f the supplemental apparatus for putting out fire on the clothing of an actor.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for putting out fires, which is intended principally for use in theaters, but

which may also be used for hotels and other public buildings, steamboats, &c. I

The general principle upon which my inven:

tion is founded is that of a system of spraypipes connected to a main pipe, and having valves and branches for throwing the water in great number of fine streams upon the fire whenever the alarm may be given.

' The invention consists in the novel and peculiar arrangement of parts, as will be fully described hereinafter. y

In the drawings, A represents the main supply-pipe, which is imderneath the stage and runs from the front to the back of the .stage about the middle of the same.

.At the front of the stage and near the ends of the row of footlights there rise two hollow columns or pipes, B B, which descend through the stage, then, tinning, connect with the main pipe A through a three-way cook, a. These column-pipes connect at the top with a horizontal distributing-pipe, 0, running parallel with the front of the stage, above the scenery, and near the ceiling. At the back portion of the stage are two other column-pipes, D D, which, underneath the stage, turn toward the main pipe A and connect therewith through a three-way cock, I). These column-pipes rise to a point above the scenery s s, and connect with a horizontal distributing-pipe, E, run- C, are great numbers of spray-pipes, arranged in four groups, F G H I. These pipes may be soldered to pipes G and E; but they are preferably connected by screw-couplings. The adjacent ends of the two sets of pipes F G of the front pipe, 0, on the one hand, and H I- of the rear pipe, E, on the other, are connected in the middle to a cross-bar, J, and said pipes at this point mutually support each other, but do not communicate with each other.

In the middle of the front upper pipe, 0, there is a partition, as at c, and as this front pipe, 0, feeds the front spray-pipes, F G, this partition divides the front spray-pipes into two independent groups. A similar partition, 6, in the rear pipe, E, also divides the rear spraypipes, H 1, into two separate groups having no communication with each other.

The parallel spray-pipes, F G H I extend over the top of the whole of the stage, with its wings and background, so as to be over all of the scenery, curtains,and inflammable material. These spray-pipes are provided un derneath with great numbers of small holes, through-which the water issues in a thick show'en. These spray-pipes are also made largest at the point where they connect with the front and back distributing-pipes, C E, andtaper'to the crossbar J, where they are smallest. The "object of this is to prevent the pressure of water from being reduced near said cross-bar by the flow through the openings which it has to pass before reaching this point.

It will be seen that the passage of water to any or all of thesections F G H I is controlled by the three-way valves or cocks c b at the point where the column-pipes join the main pipe A. Thus the three-way valve a may be turned into the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the water passes only up the columnpipe B and into the section F of the spraypipes; or said valve may be turned into the position shown in dotted lines, so that the water passes up both the column-pipes B' B and into both sections F G of the spray-pipes; or

the valve may be so turned as to cut off the water altogether. The same adjustment may be made of the rear threeway cock, I). By this means I am enabled to put out a fire occurring at anypart of the stage without drenching the rest of the scenery.

To supply the main pipe A with water one or more smaller feed-pipes, K K K" K with independent valves, maybe used, and by turning these 011 one at a time there will be no danger of bursting any of the pipes above, as might occur if the full volume of water were turned on at once.

I may make any number of sections F G H I of the spray-pipes, and instead of placing them parallel, as shown, I may arrange them in coils. Instead, also, ofnsing one three way cock for each pair of column-pipes G C, I may employ separate cocks or valves for each column.

In connection with the system of pipes as thus described I have a supplemental apparatus for putting out the fire upon the cloth ing of an actor or actress. Frequently their clothing is of such light, inflammable nature as to ignite quickly and burn them to death before they can be divested of it.

In connection with the main pipe A or one of its feeders K, I arrange a pipe, L, connecting through a valve, ill, with a shower apparatus consisting of a circular horizontal perforated pipe, N, Figs. 2 and I, and vertical pipes N, having a great number ofholes in them arranged to direct their streams inwardly to a certain point, which pipes are covered by a sheet-metal screen, 0.

In the middle of the circular pipe N is a de pressible platform, P, which connects by a link-rod, Q, with the valve M, so that whenever the clothing of an actor is ignited he may throw himself upon the platform, and as this moves down by his weight, the valve M is opened, and the water passing then to the perforated circular pipe N and the pipes N, the fire is at once put out by great numbers of streams of water directed upon the actor fi'om the bottom and all sides.

In connection with the stage sprinkling pipes, I may run branch pipes R to the several tiers of seats in the auditorium, and private boxes, and dressing-rooms, and have threeway cocks, d, for directing the fiow to the sprinkling-pipes S of any one of these points.

-When the invention is used where there are no water-works, my system of pipes may be supplied by a large tank placed high enough to give the necessary pressure.

When the device is used on board of steamboats, the system of pipes is placed wholly under the control of the engineer.

Instead of making the spray-pipes F G H I tapered, they may be made straight.

After the apparatus has been used, a quantity of water will remain in the column-pipes, and to let this out awaste-cock may be placed in each column-pipe near the bottom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In combination, the main pipe A, the column-pipes B B D D, with valves, as described, the horizontal distributing-pipes G and E,with partitions c and e, and the groups of spray-pipes F G H I, divided into independent sections, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination, the main pipe A, having one or more feeders, K, the three-way cocks a and b, the column-pipes B B and D D, the horizontal distributingpipes O E, with partitions 0 and c, and the independent groups of perforated spray-pipes I G H I, made largest at the end next to their distributing-pipes and supported in the middle by cross-bar J, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with asupply-pipe, L, having valve M therein, of the circular perforated pipes N, the vertical perforated pipes N, and the depressible platform P, connected to the valve, as shown, and adapted to turn the water onto the pipes by the descent of the platform from the weight of the person, as described.

at. The fireextinguishing apparatus consisting of the combination, with a system of water-pipes and a valve, of a spray apparatus and a depressible platform arranged in the center of the spray apparatus, and connected to the valve, as described, so as to turn on the water when the platform is depressed, substantially as described.

GEORGE I IVAGNER.

XVit-nesses:

'SoLoN G. KEMQN, CHAS. A. PETTIT. 

